Ruminations and ponderings by the Last of the Montgomery Rebels Fans on the Montgomery Biscuits and Montgomery Alabama area baseball history.

Monday, July 29, 2013

Hard Times Mean Tough Biscuits

HARD TIMES MEAN TOUGH BISCUITS

Its been a tough summer for the Montgomery Blues, playing tough against the better teams enough to offer hope but unable to put together a prolonged winning streak. The weight has been placed firmly on the starting pitchers, likely its become obvious that a pitcher has to throw a shutout to earn a win.

The back-to-back doubleheaders were a rare treat for true fans of the game and a chance for the Biscuits to suckerpunch what is essentially the top team. It turned out to be just that, one of the best series of the year, and worthy of a recap!

Biscuits turning the double play vs Jacksonville Suns

FIRST DAY GAME ONE
Game one on Thursday was started by Mike Colla who put in a fine performance. Pitching six innings allowing just one run gave a break to the bullpen in a seven inning game. He fanned four and walked none as he picked up the win at home, his one blemish being a home run in his sixth and final inning. He worked well, getting a groundball for a double play when he needed one in the fourth to escape a jam with runners at the corners and fielding his position to help turn that 1-6-3 inning ender to the delight of the crowd.

GAME TWO
Game two was a spot start by Marquis Fleming, just his second pro start. It was a joy to watch him rise to the occasion, pitching four strong innings and opened the door for the Biscuits bullpen to hold the lead when the Skitz scored four times in the fourth to get past the Suns. Braulio Lara was credited with the win, but Fleming was the one who led the team to victory.

Biscuits Glaesmann batting vs Suns

SECOND DAY GAME ONE

Thompson in game one

The following day SP Jake Thompson nearly did throw a shutout, coming within a pitch or two of his first complete game shutout in game one on Friday. He departed with men on the corners, who of course scored and though he picked up the well deserved win everyone felt he deserved better.

GAME TWO

Enny Romero on Friday vs the Suns

In the second game of that same twin bill, Enny Romero pitched and lost a game that he should have won, a masterful gem tarnished only by a single mistake driven over the wall. Biscuit bats were slumbering lumber and refused to wake which sent Romero to the loss column.

Getting a split on the heels of the doubleheader sweep on Thursday meant a series win against Jacksonville, but the Suns came away with the momentum.

GAME FIVE
Saturday it was three homers in a row that sank the Skitz, though the crowd was fat and happy on Eat-A-Palooza night, with all you can eat feasting nobody noticed the final score!

ROSTER CHANGES AFFECT CHEMISTRY?

There have been alot of changes in the Biscuit lineup the past few weeks, a product of a changing roster. The past few weeks have also seen a wide range of lineups and position changes - not to mention inconsistent play. Some changes are good, some are bad and some ya never know! Here are a few things we do know....

New catcher from Charlotte starting hot, Curt Casali had success in his first taste of Biscuitville, now looks to get a chance for road stats. I didnt get to put a stopwatch on him, but noticed that the Suns were able to steal two bags against him in game five. When the first runner of the game walks and steals second base, you are off to a bad start!

Casali with Crabs

MAHTOOK MOVES BACK TO THIRD IN ORDER
Mike Mahtook seems to have gone back to hitting in the third spot. I dont have his stats on that, but noticed in my scorebook that he was on base seven times in 14 plate appearances when he was batting second against the Smokies.

LEADOFF HITTER NEEDED
Of course, that was before we lost Kevin Kiermaier. Since his departure the Skitz have searched for a hitter to take over at thet op of the order. In this homestand vs the Suns we saw Kyeong Kang batting leadoff twice, Even Frey took a turn once and Hector Guevara batted first once.

SKITZ DROP OPENER TO BRAVES

Big Mo's Skitz in last place

Yes, of course we did. So much so
that twitter's @DidTheBiscuitsWin was able to tweet an early "No"
without fear of offering misinformation.

Sunday on the road against the Braves it was Frey hitting first again.

The Braves stole four bases, three by Ed Salcedo, and were also caught twice by Curt Casali.

Jake Floethe gave up eight hits and five walks in four and two thirds innings, striking out two on his way to his sixth loss since joining the Biscuits. He was charged with five earned runs, three others were unearned.

TODAY

Marquis Fleming gets his second start of the year, facing the Braves Righty Schlosser at 7:OO.

Shawn O'Malley expects to return to the team today and could be in the lineup as soon as tonight.